NAMB's Meacham to work with Baptist associations

By Brandon Pickett

ALPHARETTA (BP) — The North American Mission Board has appointed David Meacham as senior strategist for associations. Previously, Meacham served as NAMB’s senior strategist for church planting.

The appointment follows a NAMB-initiated “think tank” meeting in April during which NAMB/associational relations was discussed. The session was attended by NAMB representatives, associational missionaries, several state executive directors, and state directors of missions of varying ages and minstry settings.

NAMB President Geoff Hammond said with Meacham in the new post, associations will have a higher profile in North American missions. “Every one of NAMB’s Acts 1:8 partners plays a vital role in fulfilling the Great Commission on this continent,” Hammond said. “NAMB is ensuring that providing support to all 1,200 Southern Baptist associations continues to have a high priority.”

Hammond called Meacham a “bridge-builder who can forge relationships across generations which could lead to more effective partnerships for the evangelization of North America.”

Sid Hopkins, director of missions with Gwinnett Metro Baptist Association and national chairman of the Network of Baptist Associations (NOBA), said, “I’m very excited about an excellent decision by NAMB leadership. This sends a great message that the North American Mission Board takes associations very seriously.

“I appreciate David’s knowledge and expertise,” Hopkins added. “Also, having interacted personally with David, I appreciate his heart to serve associations as we work in partnership to provide ongoing training and resources for the local church.”

Meacham said he is looking forward to assisting associations in the areas of evangelism, church planting, and missions, especially with the added challenge of NAMB’s recently announced national evangelism initiative, “GPS – God’s Plan for Sharing.”

Meacham, a director of missions in Las Vegas from 1981-92, said, “I am really motivated to use my calling, experience, and passion to help Baptist associations assist the local church.” Meacham, a member of Castleberry Road Baptist Church in Cumming, also led Southern Baptist statewide efforts in Nevada from 1992-2001 as executive director of the Nevada Baptist Convention. He came to NAMB in 2007 from New Orleans Seminary, where he served as director of the Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health and professor of church planting.